Nistha Gautam increases voter participation on campus

Gautam was honored by the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for leading nonpartisan civic engagement.

Virginia Tech News

30 Apr 2026

Two students sit smiling at a table set up on grass before a stone building. The table cover reads "Fair Elections Center" and a nearby sign reads "Hokies Vote Caucus". — Nistha Gautam (at right) organized ongoing tabling events with Hokies Vote to reach students. Photo courtesy of Nistha Gautam.

Junior Nistha Gautam has earned a spot on the ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll for her nonpartisan work in political literacy and democratic engagement at Virginia Tech.

The award recognizes student voting champions who help to institutionalize nonpartisan civic engagement and increase voting among college students.

Gautam has worked as a Democracy Fellow since fall 2024 at VT Engage, the center for service learning, leadership education, and civic engagement, and has encouraged several voting engagement groups.

Building partnerships that pay off

When a local reporter at her polling location asked about student voter turnout last year, Gautam had the inside scoop. “I was very proud to tell her that I had seen growth," she said, "and more students seemed willing and engaged to participate in voting in elections this year compared to last.”

Gautam said the interaction affirmed the impact of her work through her Democracy Fellowship and the Hokies Vote Caucus.

Gautam’s influence has been most visible at Hokies Vote tabling events. She streamlined planning of voter outreach efforts across campus and designed key structures of the Democracy Fellowship program. Her innovative partnerships expanded reach through classroom voting presentations, on-campus voter registration drives, digital student voting resources, and departmental collaborations.

Billy McKeon, civic engagement coordinator for VT Engage, credited Gautam's efforts for increasing voter registration on campus sixfold in fall 2025 and engaging over 350 students during civic holiday events.

“Nistha has played a pivotal role in hosting voter mobilization events that have helped register over 400 students,” McKeon said. “Her collaboration with Residential Well-being brought voter registration drives to West Ambler Johnston, and she helped forge a partnership with the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, allowing us to present voting information to every freshman in the program for the first time. She has totally improved our entire approach to voter engagement at VT Engage."

Bringing vibrance to voter engagement

A smiling student stands pointing to a button on their waist reading "Hokies Vote." — Nistha Gautam encouraged student voting and led voter engagement discussion during elections. Photo courtesy of Nistha Gautam.

Gautam inspires others to talk about sociopolitical topics openly on campus and fosters understanding across political and social divides through her non-partisan engagement efforts.

“Nistha’s recognition shows how student-led civic engagement can be both impactful and fun,” said Jes Davis, associate director for VT Engage. “By bringing creativity, joy, and genuine passion to this work, she has built enthusiasm that motivates other Hokies to get excited, get involved, and take an active role in strengthening our democracy."

“I always tell students that voting is a constitutional privilege,” said Gautam. “And as a minority, it's a right that people in the past have fought tirelessly for. I am very grateful to do this work, and I'm excited to continue our engagement efforts for my last year at Virginia Tech.”

Hannah Banks, the Hokies Vote Caucus student director, worked with Gautam to host several voter education and turnout events. Banks said Gautam’s initiative and thoughtfulness made discussions more relevant and students more involved.

“She not only engaged students in person but also extended the conversation to our Instagram followers," said Banks. "Her welcoming energy really gives students the comfort to share their thoughts.”

Expanding a campus culture of civic leadership

Virginia Tech has been a Voter Friendly Campus through the Voter Friendly Campus program since 2021. The partnership between the Fair Election Center’s Campus Vote Project and NASPA’s LEAD Initiative supports Democracy Fellows like Gautam to help students get involved in the democratic process and strengthen participation in voter turnout.

ALL IN supports more than 1,000 campuses and 10 million students nationally to make nonpartisan civic engagement an ongoing part of campus life. Members of the 2026 Student Voting Honor Roll were nominated by campus leaders for their dedication and excellence in voter education, registration, and turnout in 2025. The full list of 2026 Student Voting Honor Roll award winners can be viewed online.